Chronicles Of HIRAWEI: The Owl Phases

Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Cloaks

I might sound like some kind of nutcase but this things that is happening to me right now is deeply deeply bizarre.

How can you even freaking explain that I just got out in that tree and I just experienced some seriously weird physics anomaly/generally creepy s**t out of nowhere?!

Bulalas ko saking sarili habang nakaupo sa gilid ng puno. Hindi ko alam saan na talaga ako ngayon, napapagod na rin ako. Nalilito man sa nagpagda-anan ko simula umpisa pinapatibayan ko nalang ang sarili kaysa naka tunga-nga at iiyak sa gilid.

I'm not that stupid to not know the hell of a place I am right now. Well of course you can expect me to panicked but if we clear things out, I've just entered a portal and that's it!

Here I am everybody sitting in the ground beside the tree, deeply starving and just by saying those maybe on blurting it will be sane-sounding.

You can clearly hear my sarcasm. Cut me some slack I just wanted to be home.

Malakas na mga buntong hininga ang pinakawalan ko at tumayo sa pagkakaupo.

Mula sa pagkakasandal sa punong pinanggalingan medyo may kadiliman ang parte ng punong ito.

Natatabunan din ang labas dahil sa malakurtinang style ng dahon nitong puno.

It's a willow tree. There are lots of it in europe especially in London and I've seen one nung pumunta kami dun.

So... what now?

I asked myself. I don't know what might happen out there, pero walang mangyayari sakin kung tutunga lang ako and besides I should gather information on this survival matter right? right.

It's funny that my clothes are now dusty with a hint of blood wounds and muddy of course for all I've been through? 'matik na yun.

But that's not the case I should get out of here.

Pinagpag ko na lang ito at hinawi ang mga dahon ng malapit na sa labasan muli akong napamangha sa ganda ng lugar na kinaroonan ko.

I can't explain how I called it... Something like a park? To think that from serene grassland and a solitary tree that I've been through earlier it was way different here.    

Mga natatayog at nag lalakihang mga puno ang nakahilera sa magkabilang gilid.

Ang gitna nito ay malawak na damuhan lang– kung titignan mo nasa gitna ang puwesto ko dahil makikita mo dito ang kabuuan ng lugar.

Palingalinga akong naglalakad patungo sa kaliwang bahagi ng nakahilerang mga puno na may katamtamang laki rin ang landas dito na mala batong semento ang desinyo.

Mag dadapit hapon na rin dito kaya medyo makulimlim ang liwanag.

It was really a breathtaking scenery but the mere fact that it gives me also confusing feeling... and when I look thoroughly at the view especially the trees make me shiver and question myself why am I always drag into this kind of situation.

Isinawalang bahala ko ang naiisip at dahan-dahang palinga linga parin sa paligid.

It was a long walk indeed inabot ako ng limang minuto pa lakad-lakad lang ngunit walang pinagbago.

I still couldn't reach the end of the pathway. I'm about to make a detour when I heard noise of a flowing water from a distance.

"This is freaking insane." I murmured.

I really don't know what to do right now.

I have no idea where the hell I am or should I say how can I find a way out when I– myself don't even know where to go.

"Gabayan niyo po sana ako." I exhale.

Looking through the dawn sky and close my eyes.

I am hoping my instinct thought would help me this time.

Napahawak ako saking tiyan ng humapdi ito at tumunog ang hudyat ng pagkagutom.

"Gutom na ako." mahina kong tugon sa sarili at napakagat sa ibabang labi na lang para tiisin ito.

I've been trained for this. I am not Morgana for nothing.

Sinundan ko ang ingay ng rumaragasang tubig. Deretso sa paglalakad... pero napahinto ako na katapusan na pala ng landas at paliko na ito pakanan.

Confused strike me as I look around for guidance.

"So this is the last tree." nakatungo kong tingin sa huling puno.

Walang pag alinlangan at sinunod lang ang landas na pakanan na ang tungo sa daan.

Patuloy sa paglalakad ng mapahinto dahil paiba iba na ang disenyo sa lugar na nadaanan.

Sa halip na katamtamang laki ng puno kumpara nung unang matatayog ang landas na ito dito ay maliit kumpara sa saktong sukat ng puno.

I'm about to it's end of this road– cause you know I can tell it here. When I was starstruck by the huge bushes on each side arching a 10 feet tall grand entrance.

"Whoa!" This pathway turns out to be magical out of nowhere.

I step my foot in and there I saw a huge fountain in the middle.

"So that's where the noise came from?" I ask out of nowhere.

There where small bushes form distance the fountain and it has 8 by those surrounding it.

I look closely to the fountain.

The crystal clear water glimmers from the lightning's making it more picturesque. There were also a huge flowing water in the middle– flowing non-stop.

I was amazed by the view that something caught my attention above of it. There where objects floating or whatever that is.

Wait, what? Am I hallucinating?

Humawak ako sa railings para matignan ng malapitan.

It was really floating! How the s**t that happen?

There the objects I've seen was a symbol of different crest's. It was just the form since I can't see it down here.

By looking through it, there were 9 of it colored differently. The middle crest glows more than any other.

It was encircled by 8 heraldry's from different position mainly in North, South, East & West– parts outside of the glowing one.

The rest stars where position in the middle of each direction to shorten it- an asterisks symbol like.

They were shine in different colors but the color of gold embarks the crest's making it more "powerful" called rematching the color of this fountain.

I know what its a crest's looks like since our family have one. I know also that its symbolizes a clan, organizations or a kingdom were royal families ruled like–whatever you called it.

I was mesmerized of what I just discover but the thought that how could be the noise be heard from a far distance was so damn confusing.

I felt something I really can't explain. Ironic isn't it?

Well I've been feeling it since I got here. I'm becoming more skeptical about the future.

Strange. It's too quiet.

I look at my side and there I saw a huge pair of golden gates. If I says huge that really means damn huge! Di ko din alam kung saan ang hangganan ng tarangkahan since madilim na.

Is this the possible way out?

It should be a good sign, but something isn't right.

"Well, it's not like I have other choices." I bearly endured my feelings and grabbed my swiss knife firmly.

There were cursive letters engraved by the arch above of it.

"HIRAWEI?" I questioned myself as I read it. What could it be?

A sudden feeling strikes me when I heard noises from a distance.

I immediately look around. I can hear my heart pounding at the same time. Pinakinggan ko pa ng mabuti nang may naririnig akong yapak ng tumatakbo sa di kalayuan.

Nanggaling ang ingay sa labas ng may nakikita akong mga liwanag ng maliit na ilaw. May paparating dito.

Agad akong nagtago sa likod ng malalaking halaman para magmasid.

"APERIRE PORTAS!" (OPEN THE GATES!) sigaw ng isa sakanila na makisig at malalim na boses.

Latin? Sino sila?

Sumilip ako para matignan kung sino ang mga dumating.

I don't know how to react as I feel goosebumps over my entire body. Shock registered on my face when I found out that they're no ordinary human!

A half human and half horse. Centaurs. I didn't know they were this kind of huge.

With those long curly beard and hair, strong built and armed with armor's.

I've only seen those in damn movies! are they really existed? No way!

"LOCUM QUAERERE!" (SEARCH THE PLACE!) palinga lingang sabi ng nangunguna sakanila sa pwesto.

"Quodam loco quis est ille intrusus. CITIUS!" (The intruder is just somewhere. FASTER!) kasindak sindak na sigaw ng pinuno nila.

Nasindak ako sa kinatatayuan ko nang malaman ko ang ibig niyang sabihin. Di hamak na ako yata ang tinutukoy niya na nanghimasok dito.

Umatras ako ng dahan-dahan para magtago sa mas liblib ngunit sa pag apak ko tumunog ang mga tuyong dahon.

Tila ba sa segundo na yun huminto ang takbo ng oras. Di ko din alam kung bakit ako nagtatago basta ang alam ko lang kailangan makatakas ako.

Tumingin sa direksyon ko ang isa sa mga tauhan dun ng marinig ang ingay.

Those green piercing eyes are telling me something and alam kong papatayin nila ako sa oras na ito.

Escaping is the most critical thing in this kind of situation.

The creature suddenly starts to walk towards me. It turns around side to side and holds his sword in front of him firmly.

I could at last move my legs and start to run away as fast as I can from that human–reaper creature.

Seeing that human–reaper sword aimed at me is enough for me to start running for my life.

Pinigilan ko ang paghinga at dahang dahan umatras ngunit mas ikinababahala ko na isang malaking pader na pala ang nasa likuran ko.

Oh, SHOOT!

There's no escape they're surrounding me!

I exclaimed in my thoughts with annoyance. What should I do?

As far as I know and read... no matter how fast I am at running when there's no point of it since centaurs are way more faster than the normal speed car could run, so to calculate the situation I am terribly at DOOM.

The centaur is getting closer to my direction.

My mind is totally blank. I've ran this scenario in my head like hundred times but it was all futile.

I've run this scenario in my head like a hundred times but I can't do anything.

I don't even know where I am. This is all insane! My heart is pounding like crazy.

Suddenly...

When I heard small noise rumbling behind my back. I glance at the wall and confused shocking state draws on my face when the wall start to make a hole–opening or what the hell s**t that maybe. Should that be a good sign?

I literally panicked and head my direction towards the centaur guy when he's just 5 meters away from me.

Damn! Nakikita kaya niya ako? Wala syang dalang ilaw tsaka madilim sa pwesto kong ito.

Just right about the centaur guy might caught me in this position when a hand or something pull me into the wall and cover my mouth.

I yelp for the sudden act. s**t!

What's going on? As I am trying to comprehend the situation–

"You alright?" I immediately barge from his grip and step backward.

As I look side by side I know that I am already outside of those gates.

"Uh, w-who.. are y-you?" I look to the man who spoke. But I can't see his face since he was wearing a black cloak covering the part of it.

Another guy suddenly pop out of nowhere holds out his hand towards me. No words.

Is he waiting for me to grab his hand?

"Shouldn't you say 'thank you' first?"

There's another guy from the other side suddenly spoke. I was caught off guard with this men's wearing cloak and sudden popping out of nowhere. Mga kabute ba to?

Am I safe from those human–centaur looking guys in there?

"Forget it. We got no time." another guy pops out from nowhere. "We have to move."

The one who cover my mouth earlier nods agreeing the guy with a cloak who said we have to move.

"Are you hurt?" another guy voice came from my back.

A bunches of guys with a cloak covering their faces approaches me. There were 5 of them! Is this should be a good sign? Damn. I keep asking those.

I look at them confused. I'm not getting any of this.

"Let's go!" The guy who said to move suddenly speak with authority. They started to run-walk towards other direction.

Still confused, I follow them out of nowhere in this dark forest look like side.

"Let's get moving. They might come after us." the guy who is on my back speak.

"I think they are already after us."

Right after his words. I see a horde of centaurs hurling towards us.

"Damn it! We need to fluxuate NOW!!" The guy whose in the first guide started to proclaim.

"Huh?" I ask confusedly.

Tama ba yung naririnig ko at di ako nabibingi? F-Flux WHAT? Anong pinagsasabi nito?

This time, the guy who offer his hand earlier didn't wait. He grabs my hand and suddenly a light start to shine in both of our hands and starts running.

As not to hold back these guys, I also ran with my full effort.

All I think right now is to stay away from those centaur guys tsaka ko na isipin kung mabuti or masasamang tao ba tong mga nakasama ko. Weird I know.

I could hear the centaurs chasing us from far back. It was also unexplainable to me how come these guys runs like a wind.

I'm getting dizzy and out of breath, but I can still feel the warmth of his hand holding mine. It's like telling me I'm very much alive.

Just like that, we've been in a whirlpool like situation for seconds and we're already in another place– whatever the heck it is.

Nahilo yata ako sa parang ipong-ipo na napasukan namin.

Damn. Tell me this is all just a bad dream. A really really bad dream.

Just when I'm about to collapse dahil umiikot na yung paningin ko when the guy who holds me suddenly caught me in his arms. Heavy breathing from mine can also be heard. My vision started to blacked out as I close my eyes.

All I know is I'm running for life with these guys I've never met before.